Extension device



May 13, 1952 P. F. VOLK 2,596,186

EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

BY WM f/M Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIONDEVICE Paul Fridolin Volk, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Carl Art, Inc., acorporation of Rhode Island Application September 24, 1948, Serial No.51,047

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to bracelets and wrist watch bands, andhas particular reference to a novel construction for an extensiondevice.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an extension devicewhich utilizes a folding and sliding arrangementfor changing theencircling size of a bracelet or wrist watch band to facilitate mountingthe bracelet or band on the wrist and removing the bracelet or bandtherefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extension device forquickly adjusting the length of a bracelet or band to properly fit thewrist.

A further object of the invention is to provide a releasable lock forthe length adjustment parts which may be manually released by lifting apawl or by pressing on the ends of the extension device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of anovel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detaileddescription following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings andmore specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extension device embodying theinvention, the parts being shown in closed adjusted relation;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the extension parts in separatedextended position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail disclosing the length adjustmentparts in locked relation; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, disclosing the length adjustmentparts in released relation.

It has been found desirable to provide a sturdy extension device for abracelet or wrist watch band, which is readily opened to facilitatemounting the bracelet or band on a wrist and removing the bracelet orband therefrom, the parts being arranged so that the device may belength adjusted while in closed position on the wrist. For this purpose,I provide a manually operable pawl lever onone part which has ratchetengagement with a longitudinal rack member on another part, a lockingrelation being obtained when the lever is manually depressed, and anopening or separable condition resulting from a manual lifting of thepawl or from a mechanical lifting of the pawl when the ends of thepressed inwardly.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the extension device |t| includes a housing I whichfunctions as an ornamental cover and is preferably stamped out of sheetmetal. The housing H is slightly arcuate, and has a top l2 and sides |3,M which extend downward from the top to provide an upper generallyrectangular chamber l5 and then curve outwardly to provide a lowerchamber l6 of greater width having curved side walls; the end of thehousing is provided with a bracelet connection such as an integral endhinge roll IT, for attachment to one end of the bracelet or watch band,and the housing top has an openextension device are ing or slot |8positioned adjacent the other end in which a lock pawl lever I9 ispivotally mounted, as by means of a hinge pin 20 secured in the sides ofthe chamber [5.

An intermediate metal link 2| has pivot ends 22 at one end which areswingingly seated in corresponding openings in the sides of the chamber5 in spaced relation to the hinge pin 20, thelink 2| being of a lengthand curvature to seat within the chamber I5; the link 2| is formed witha central longitudinal reinforcing bead 23 and has a terminal hinge eye24 at its outer end.

A second intermediate link 25, see Fig. 4, has one end provided withspaced hinge eyes 25, 26a for receiving the hinge eye 24 of the link 2|therebetween, a pivot pin 21 hinging the links 2| and 25 together. Thelink 25 has a central depressed rib 28 and two side flanges 29, 29awhich are slidably received in inturned side flanges 35, 30a of a metalslide link 3|, see Figs. 4 and 5, the link 25 having transverse end tabs32 which also seat within the side flanges 30, 30a and are lockedagainst removal therefrom by end tabs 33, 33a on the slide link 3|.

The slide link 3|, see Fig. 3, has a central toothed or corrugated rackportion 34 provided with a plurality of teeth 35 which function as catchelements, and an integral hinge end roll connection 36 for attachment tothe other end of the bracelet or watch band. The side flanges 30, 30a ofthe slide link slidably seat within the curved side walls of the lowerchamber it of the housing II, which form slide passageways, as shown inFig. 5, and the lock pawl lever l9, see Figs. 6 and '7, has a manuallyengageable upper portion 31, a depending detent 38 adapted to releasablyengage the catch elements of the slide link by selectively seatingbetween two teeth 35, and an undercut groove 39, see Fig. l, forretogether as' shown in 'vention thus ceiving a finger nail to manuallydisengage the lever from the catch teeth.

When the bracelet extension device is in closed position, the parts nestas shown in Figs. 3 and 5, with the intermediate link 2| housed in thehousing between the housing top and the slide link 3|, and theintermediate link 25 seated within the slide link 3|, which is slidablypositioned' in the lower chamber of the housing. When the extensiondevice is opened, as shown in Fig. 4, a full extension is obtained asillustrated, the slide link sliding out to its full length.

To close the extension device, the intermediate links are folded intothe housing, whereupon the slide link slides over the intermediate link25 and into the lower chamber of the housing. This inward slidingmovement of the slide pressed by pushing simultaneously on the'end rollsl1 and'36 of the cover housing and the slide link, whereupon inwardpressure of the slide link causes the teeth 35 to act on the detent 38to turn the lock pawl lever into open position, as illustrated in Fig.'7.

The above described embodiment of the inutilizes a small number-ofreadily assembled parts, is sturdy in construction and is readilyopened, closed, and adjusted in length.

Although I have disclosed a preferred con .struction, itisobvious'thatchangesin'the size,

shape, proportions andarrangement of the parts may be made to meet therequirements for different bracelet designs, within the spirit and thescope of the claims appended hereto.-

I claim:

L In an extension device, a housing having side walls, said housinghaving a braceletconnection at one end, an intermediate link hinged atone endto the other end of the housing, a second intermediate-linkhinged to the other end of the first intermediate link, anda slide linkslidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link havinga-bracelet connection at itsouter end, the walls oisaid housing-slidablyreceiving the-sides of the slide link' with the-intermediate linksnesting in the housing, and co-operating releasable lock elements on thehousing and the slide link, comprising. a 'lock lever pivotally mountedon the housing and catch elements longitudinallypositioned on the 'slidelink for selective engagement by said lock'lever.

2. In an extension device, a housing having, side walls, said housinghaving a bracelet connection. at one end, an intermediate link hingedatone end to the other end of the. housing, a second intermediate linkhinged to the other the undercut groove 39;' or the end of the firstintermediate link, and a slide link slidably secured to the secondintermediate link, said slide link having a bracelet connection at itsouter end, the walls of said housing slidably receiving the sides of theslide link with the intermediate links nesting in the housing, andco-operating releasable lock elements on the housing and the slide link,comprising a lock lever pivotally mounted on the housing and catchelements longitudinally positioned on the slide link for selectiveengagement by said lock lever, said lock lever having a manually movablepart for disengagement from the catch elements.

3. In an extension dev1ce, a housing having side walls, saidhousinghaving a bracelet connection at one end, an intermediate link hinged atone end to the other end of the housing, a secondv intermediate linkhinged to the other end of the first intermediate link, and a slide linkslidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link havinga bracelet connection at its outer end, the walls: of-saidhousingslidably receiving the sides of the slide link with the intermediatelinks nesting in the housing, 7 and co-operating releasable lockelementson the housing and the slide link, comprising a lock leverpivotally mounted on the housing intermediate the side walls and catchelementslongitudinally positioned on the slide link for selectiveengagement bysaid lock lever, said lock lever having a-manuallyengageable portion and a pawl element, said catch elements havingrecesses with sides engageable with the lock :mem-

,ber pawl element to hold the locking engagement when the slide link ispulled-outwardly from the housing and to move the lock lever todisengaging position'when-theslide link is pressed towards the housing.I

4. In anv extension device, a housing having side walls, said housinghaving a bracelet-connection at one end, .an intermediate link hinged atone end to the other end of the housing, a second intermediate linkhinged to-=the other end of the first intermediate link, anda slide linkslidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link havinga bracelet connection at its outer end, the walls-of said housingslidably receiving the sides of the slide link with theintermediate-links nesting in the housing, and co-operating releasablelock elements on the housing and the slide link, comprisinga. lock leverpivotally mounted on thehousing and. catch elements longitudinallypositioned on the" slide linkfor selective engagement by said locklever,said catch elements comprising teeth to holdthe locking engagement whenthe slidelink is-pulledland to move. the lock lever to disengagingposition when the slide link is pressed towards the housing. 7

' PAUL .FRIDOLIN .VOLK;

' file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date- Rowen Dec. 14, .1948

Number 2,456,595

